The US Open gets underway on Monday as both the singles draws set off on their way across them many courts at Flushing Meadow in New York, as half of both fields begin their quest to win the final Grand Slam of the season.
The good thing about the bright lights of New York is that the stars are in demand and we have a number of them out to play on the opening day, with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams among a stellar cast list on Monday’s schedule.
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Arthur Ashe Stadium
They are continuing with just the two matches in the day sessions on the Arthur Ashe Stadium this year so opening up the piece is the French Open champion and world number two Ash Barty. She takes on Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan before Novak Djokovic gets his title defence up and running when he faces a comfortable looking test of Roberto Carballes Baena for a place in the second round of the tournament.
The night sessions in New York always deliver fireworks and you would think we’re guaranteed that right from the off here as the match of the first round opens up the show when Serena Williams takes on Maria Sharapova. At 19-2 in favour of Serena it is hard to call this a rivalry but it is two big guns slogging it out on the opening night. The second half of the night session sees Roger Federer taking on Sumit Nagal of India.
Louis Armstrong Stadium
It is a proper sized day session on the Louis Armstrong Stadium though where Karolina Pliskova gets the show on the road. She faces her fellow Czech player Tereza Martincova before the man of the moment Daniil Medvedev launches his challenge for a first Grand Slam title. He meets Prajnesh Gunneswaran before the day session closes by Saisai Zheng facing Venus Williams in what could be a cracking contest.
There is a full night session on this court too and that begins with the former champion Stan Wawrinka going up against the Italian youngster Jannik Sinner who is being talked up strongly in some quarters. The Cincinnati champion Madison Keys gets her competition underway in the second match of the night. She meets Misaki Doi of Japan for a place in the second round.
Grandstand
The new Grandstand court was a great place to be last year with a number of big matches on there and we could have more on Monday too. Former finalist Kei Nishikori gets the action going when he takes on Marco Trungelliti of Argentina before a cracking looking women’s match follows them when former champion Angelique Kerber takes on Kiki Mladenovic. The big hitting American player Sam Querrey then faces Juan Ignacio Londero before our outright women’s bet Sofia Kenin then takes on her American compatriot Coco Vandeweghe in a match that screams pain for the tennis ball.
Court 17
The other show court at Flushing Meadows these days is Court 17 and the crowds out there get to see the British number one on show as Jo Konta faces the potentially awkward test of Daria Kasatkina in a match where she has everything to lose and not a whole lot to gain. Fabio Fognini is second on this court when he plays the powerful serving American player Reilly Opelka. Elina Svitolina is third up on this court when she takes on the American youngster Whitney Osuigwe before another talented American finishes off the play as Taylor Fritz goes up against the Queens champion Feliciano Lopez.
Best of the Rest
One of the beauties of this tournament is there are stars wherever you go at Flushing Meadows or whichever stream you are watching at home. Anastasija Sevastova meets Eugenie Bouchard in an appealing women’s match on Court 5 while dotted around the grounds are Caroline Garcia, Qiang Wang, Petra Martic, Dayana Yastremska, David Goffin, Guido Pella, Cristian Garin, Borna Coric, Lucas Pouille, Grigor Dimitrov and Dusan Lajovic.
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Men’s Betting
There are a few bets I like in the men’s draw on Monday where a couple of outsiders catch the eye and a favourite who I believe should be shorter than he is. The first outsider is Adrian Mannarino who I believe can take care of the British player Dan Evans. Evans had a busy summer chasing tournaments all around the UK and he looked a bit flat at Wimbledon and hasn’t really pulled up a lot of trees since then. All the fallout from his split with his coach might not have helped and he is vulnerable to a man who won their only meeting on the grass last year, a match which probably should have suited Evans. There are signs that Evans is just sliding a little so the Frenchman is favoured at even money.
Fabio Fognini has pulled out of a couple of tournaments recently but if he is fit for this, and you’d think he would pull out if he isn’t, then I think he’s a decent price to take care of Reilly Opelka, whose strength in his serve could be negated on these slower New York tracks. When they get into rallies you would expect the Italian to dominate for large periods so the prices here can only be on the fitness doubts of Fognini. I’m happy to take the chance that he is fine and if he is I would expect him to see off the American who’ll need more than just his serve in this one.
Pablo Carreno Busta is a former semi-finalist here and I think he can use those positive vibes to see off a Guido Pella who has disappointed me since his run to the quarter final at Wimbledon. I was on Pella against David Goffin in Cincinnati and he was very poor and with the Spaniard finding some form in recent weeks I think Carreno Busta should be a little shorter for this than he is. PCB gave Djokovic a good fight in Cincinnati earlier in the month and has had a solid tune up in Winston Salem. He is playing the hard courts well and I fancy him to take out the Argentine.
Women’s Betting
I’ll take on a couple of big names in the women’s draw on Monday as well. Jo Konta hasn’t won a match since that infamous press conference after she bottled her quarter final at Wimbledon and you wonder if that disappointment has left a lingering mark on the Briton. She faces Daria Kasatkina who has a win over Angelique Kerber to her name recently and who hits the ball incredibly cleanly. I never like backing Konta in a Grand Slam and having been on the wrong end of that meltdown at Wimbledon having backed her to win that quarter, I’m in no rush to be burned again. Kasatkina is the kind of opponent Konta hates facing so I’ll take the Russian at the prices.
Two out of form players meet on the Grandstand court when Angelique Kerber takes on Kiki Mladenovic but I fancy the French woman can remain within 4.5 games of the German player. Kerber has hit the buffers big time, losing tamely in Toronto and Cincinnati to players you would have expected her to beat and while she might eventually go on and win this, all the pressure is on her to deliver, especially as she won this event two years ago. Mladenovic can play with a bit more freedom knowing that her fortnight is largely all about the doubles. Whoever eventually wins this one I’m with Mladenovic to be within 4.5 games at the end.
Daily Accumulator
As ever we will look to bump up the profits this week by offering up a daily accumulator for those of you who want to spend a few quid for the one bet to see you through the day. We’ll go with a fivefold to get us started.
Sock win
Hurkacz win
Yastremska win
Muchova win
Hsieh win
£10 pays £67.70
Tips
Back A.Mannarino to beat D.Evans for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Coral
Back him here:
Back F.Fognini to beat R.Opelka for a 4/10 stake at 2.20 with William Hill
Back him here:
WON – Back P.Carreno Busta to beat G.Pella for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Bet365
Back D.Kasatkina to beat J.Konta for a 4/10 stake at 2.38 with BetVictor
Back her here:
WON – Back K.Mladenovic (+4.5 games) to beat A.Kerber for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Betfred
Back her here:
Back Daily Accumulator at Betfair
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